Objects rubbing together cause friction which eventually wears down one or the other surface. Finding ways to reduce this friction—in your knees, in an engine, or in factory machinery—can help scientists develop stronger materials that last longer and slide easier, which increases efficiency.

The webcomic XKCD published a diagram of a rocket using only the 1000 most commonly used words in the English language. So we asked two of our postdoctoral researchers to try a hand at explaining their research the same way.

Two Argonne scientists work on simulations that project what the climate will look like 100 years from now. Last year, they completed the highest resolution climate forecast ever done for North America, dividing the continent into squares just over seven miles on a side — far more detailed than the standard 30 to 60 miles.